No ‘Hijab’ or Religious Clothing Allowed in Colleges Till Matter is Decided: Karnataka High Court

| Updated: 10 February, 2022 8:26 pm IST

BENGALURU: Amid the ‘hijab’ row that has been raging through the state, the Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi on Thursday passed an order that colleges in Karnataka can reopen but no student can wear any piece of clothing that symbolises religion till the matter is pending before the court.

“We will pass an order that lets the institutions start, but till the matter is pending here, no student should insist on wearing religious dress. Peace and tranquility should be maintained,” the Chief Justice said.

The HC had on Wednesday constituted a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice Jaibunnisa M Khazi to hear petitions pertaining to ‘hijab’ ban in colleges.

The HC will hear the matter next at 2.30 pm on Monday.

The controversy started on December 27, 2021, when six Muslim girls were denied entry into their classrooms in the Government PU college in Udupi. They proclaimed that wearing hijab is a part of their faith and it is their right to wear whatever they wish to. It is important to note that these girls did not wear ‘hijab’ in the classrooms before the recent uproar and adhered to the college’s ‘dress code’.

The issue snowballed into a huge controversy as students of other colleges across the state also got involved. Some cases of violence in colleges have also been reported.

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said schools and colleges will be opened in a phased manner and students should cooperate.

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